Avian Influenza (Hansard, 2 February 2004)

§ Andrew George
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records her Department keeps of outbreaks of avian influenza among(a) poultry flocks, (b) poultry meat processors and (c) egg processors in EU member states in the last five years. [151962]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
[holding answer 30 January 2004]Our records show the following outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in member states in the last five years. These have all been in poultry flocks:

Italy—1997 until April 2000;

Netherlands—March to May 2003;

Belgium—April 2003; and

Germany—May 2003.

§ Andrew George
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what biosecurity measures the Government have in place to protect(a) poultry farmers and (b) consumers from (i) legal and (ii) illegal (A) poultry meat and (B) egg imports from countries in South East Asia which have reported an outbreak of avian influenza. [151963]

§ Mr. Bradshaw
[holding answer 30 January 2004]Defra issued advice on biosecurity and on health and safety to the farming industry on 5 November 2003. In view of the avian influenza situation, we are writing to all known poultry keepers and to veterinary surgeons to highlight the problem and to reissue the advice.
There is no legal trade in poultry meat or eggs from South East Asian countries affected by avian influenza other than from Thailand. Prohibitions have been 620W placed on imports from Thailand of meat, meat products and meat preparations from species susceptible to avian influenza.
HM Customs and Excise are responsible for measures to detect and prevent illegal imports into Great Britain of prohibited animal products They have put in place measures to address the possibility of illegally imported products. This included notification to all Customs staff of the new controls prohibiting imports from Thailand and ensuring controls are in place to prevent any trade imports in accordance with the EU Council Directive.
The Food Standards Agency advice is that eating chicken and eggs is not considered a risk to consumers. This is because the risk to people arises from close contact with live chickens that have the disease, and not through eating chicken or eggs.